Regional Health Authorities Provide Update on Mammography Review
Three regional health authorities (Eastern Health, Labrador-Grenfell Health and Western Health) are providing an update on the ongoing mammography review for patients as reported on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. A coordinated quality review process has now been initiated at all three regional health authorities to ensure that mammography images have been viewed on workstations that meet technical standards. Radiologists from across the province are conducting the review.
The review pertains to how the mammography images were viewed and not the quality of the images themselves or the way the exam was conducted. We want to clarify that 5 megapixel monitors are the standard for the review of mammography images, while 3 megapixel monitors are the standard for all other types of images, such as X-rays and CT scans. These occurrences are not a result of the use of defective monitors.
The regional health authorities assure individuals who may be identified in this review that only workstations that meet the technical standards for mammogram interpretation are now being used for the review of mammography images. Current and future mammograms are not affected.
As we have moved through and refined the review process, the three regional health authorities have updated the number of patients affected. This data reflects a reduction in the overall number of patients involved in this review, from approximately 11,751 released on August 31, 2022 to the amended count of 10,883 patients.
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